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THE GENESEE FARMER. 



*• Wkbvils." — The midge in wheat is often, but errone- 

 oaslj, called the weevil. The true weevil is an insect 

 which attacks wheat in the granarj. It also attacks 

 crackers, as those who have been on ^lip-board well 

 know. The soldiers in our camps are also becoming un- 

 pleasantly acquainted with these active little creatures, 

 and they form the subject of many jokes. Some of them 

 are worth repeating : 



"One was that the insects were purposly put in the 

 bread to save mule transportation,! and that when the 

 commissary wished to transport the bread, he simply 

 ■whistled and it came itself. Another was that four of 

 these crackers were seen on battalliou drill one evening, 

 going through the evolutions with great precision. One 

 of the boys had a lot of bread so thickly settled as to be 

 untenable, and brought it down to the commissary to be 

 exchanged. He was told to lay it down and take others, 

 vhen he very honestly asked, ' HadriH I better hitch '«»/' " 



Cotton ix Egypt. — A correspondent of the Genesee 

 Farmer, from Southern Illinois, writes that " tarmers are 

 now preparing to plant cotton, quite extensively. About 

 every farmer, however small, is intending to plant a small 

 plot of cotton, either for his own use or for market. 

 Some will plant several acres, others only small patches 

 for home use. Two thousand five hundred pounds were 

 shipped from our neighborhood which brought 60 cents 

 per pound at the station. Southern Illinois will send no 

 small amount to the eastern cities next season." 



Home Makufactcres. — John Dork, Esq., of Scottsville, 

 writes : " I was lately at Mlddleville, Michigan, and called 

 on Mr. Silas Boardman. Mrs. B. showed me specimens 

 of linen of their own growth and manufacture into such 

 articles as towels and shirts. She thought, very properly 

 83 I conceive, that the young ladies of her vicinity might 

 creditably and profitably form classes to take lessons in 

 •pinning and weaving, substituting or alternating the 

 distaff, the spinning wheel, and the loom, for or with the 

 piano. Her example is certainly worthy of imitation." 



"You CasVot do a Young thing too well." — This old 

 saying probably had reference to the importance of doing 

 things well when young ; but it is equally applicable to 

 the feeding and care of young animals. " You cannot do 

 a young thing too well." Don't pamper them, or keep 

 them in close, ill ventilated stalls, but be sure that they 

 have all the food necessary, moderate warmth and fresh 

 air for their healthy growth. A starved colt or a starved 

 calf never makes a first class horse or a good milker. 



Osier Willows. — A correspondent asks where there is 

 a market for basket willows. They are in demand in 

 nearly all our large cities. The price now is, we believe, 

 about $75 per ton for the peeled willows. Large quanti- 

 ties are imported from Europe which might just as well 



be grown in this country. 



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Farm laborers will be scarce in this State and in the 

 West the comicg season, and wages will bo high. In 

 Canada the reverse is true, and already many good hands 

 are coming over here. They find a hearty welcome and 

 plenty of work. More are needed. 



The Chinch bug is very partial to buckwheat, and it is 

 said to be a good method of preventing injury to other 

 grain to tow a little buckwheat round the field. 



Inquiries and Answers. 



Cultivation of Flax. — We up here are getting rag 

 for want of new clothes. It costs about as much to ck 

 a man with cotton as his skin is worth. Will you pl( 

 tell us, in the April number of the Genesee Farmer, \ 

 to raise flax— the time to sow, the seed, quantity per a 

 kind of soil, ic. 



I have heard that a machine is running at or r 

 Kochester to clean or dress flax cheaply and to mak 

 into flax cotton. If there is such a machine I would 

 to see it advertised. — Daniel Edwards, Little Genesee 



There are machines in operation at Medina and L( 

 port. The manufacturers furnish the seed to farmer.' 

 $2.80 per bushel (we are told), and agree to pay the Si 

 price for it next fall. They also agree to pay $12.00 

 tun for the rotted flax. 



*"- Sandy loams and alluvial soila are best suited to f 

 but it can be raised on any ordinary land. The pi 

 throws out deep roots, and the soil should be well draii 

 It should also be made as clean and mellow as possi 

 If grown for fibre, thick seeding is desirable— say 

 bushels per acre. Sow as early in the spring as poss 

 after the ground can be worked. Land that has b 

 well prepared in the fall can be sown without plowi 

 If raised merely for the seed, half a bushel of seed 

 acre is sufficient. In this case it is generally sown 

 sod land. Care should be taken to cover the seed 

 evenly as possible. 



There would be an immense quantity of flax raised 

 present season were it not for the scarcity and high p 

 of seed. It is sold in this city for |5.00 per bushel, 

 it is difficult to obtain it even at this rate. 



Grape Vines by Mail. — (S. M.) It would doubtles: 

 better to purchase older and stronger vines; but tt 

 serit by mail can be so managed as to give good satis 

 tion. If set out where they are intended to remain, 

 the ground be well prepared ; set out the plants ci 

 fully, spreading out the roots, and cover with fine mi 

 It is well to protect them from the cold winds. If 

 ground is dry, give them a thorough watering when 

 out. If the land is not ready to receive them, take tt 

 out of the package at once and cover them slightly in 

 earth, both roots and canes. They may remain in ( 

 condition for a week or two without injury ; or, if thou 

 best, you may set out the plants in a warm border, i 

 let them remain until next spring before the final sett 

 out. In this way you can take better care of them 

 first year, and thus get good strong vines. 



Feeding Horses. — Which will be the cheapest and b< 

 to pay ten dollars per tun for hay to feed to horses tl 

 are not working much, or cut uj) straw and mix with 

 corn-meal that is worth i\.r>0 per lOo lbs., and .shorts tl 

 cost $1.2.") per 100 lbs., or mix with the .straw meal h 

 oats? Many here are beginning to ft.'cd straw with so 

 such mixture, myself among the rest. I am about hi 

 convinced that we had better buy hav at #10 a tun, a 

 scatter the straw around the barn yard to rot. What 

 you say?— G. G., rhiladtlphia. 



We think hay at $10 per tun decidedly the cheapest 



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Grafting Old Grape Vines.— (J. D.) You will find 

 article on this subject in the livral Annval for 1863, pa 

 66. You will find two methods there described a) 

 illustrated, either of which, if carefully followed, w 

 prove successful. 



